Chapter 81
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: No More Safe Zones
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As I glanced idly out the carriage window, a poorly pasted flyer on a utility pole caught my eye in the corner of my vision.
If I hadn't paid it any mind, I might have missed it entirely, but once I did, it clumsily drew my attention.
A newspaper fluttered and settled repeatedly, pushed by the wind.
Just like the countless discarded extras littering the roadside.
The flyer spotlighted my face alongside the half-destroyed capital, much like the papers.
The ruined academy was just an afterthought.
“The weather’s rotten.”
I tilted my head up to avoid seeing my own face, but even the sky was blanketed in thick gray clouds, blocking out the light.
This overcast day, heavy with the promise of rain, stirred a needless regret in me.
At the same time, a gust of wind from somewhere lifted the newspapers strewn across the road.
The paper rustled upward, only to be caught by the wheels of a passing carriage and settle back down.
Unconsciously, my eyes followed it, reading the headline on the fallen flyer.
‘No More Safe Zones.’
‘The Time for Decision.’
‘What Do the Heretic Mages Seek?’
‘As the Imperial Family Remains Silent…’
I knew them all too well.
They were the very reason I hesitated to accept my medal.
“Trying to make me into an object of blind faith, are they.”
I let out a quiet sigh.
I wasn’t invincible.
It was true I was stronger than most, but compared to the scenarios looming ahead, my power was laughably inadequate.
Things weren’t supposed to turn out like this, but I might need to prepare a little faster.
Lost in such thoughts, I fiddled with the documents I’d left on the empty seat beside me.
‘I had them ready anyway… but handing them over feels strangely off.’
I gave a self-mocking smile at the odd sensation and slowly closed my eyes.
???
A week earlier, right after the tunnel collapsed, I gazed dryly at the faint dawn light breaking in the east.
Perched atop a monster’s head, watching the sunrise, the first thing I truly felt was exhaustion.
Not the simple fatigue from recent hard work or constant tension.
It was like parched earth cracking under the midsummer sun, life’s momentum quietly draining away.
Even if I tried to feel refreshed, accomplished, or even a sliver of relief, it slipped through my fingers like cool stream water scooped in cupped hands.
Soon, emptiness took hold, followed by growing numbness—nothing at all.
“Guess I’m a bit tired.”
With a wry smile, I savored the thick ennui that enveloped my body.
Even closing my eyes and humming a tune brought only pain from the body beneath me.
My worn spirit couldn’t accept the endless, flat horizon stretching out forever.
It was so bleak, like an overstretched rubber band that refused to snap back, my back crumbling in tandem with the exhaustion.
“The end’s nowhere in sight…”
It wasn’t like rest and recovery would restore me to normal.
The more I embodied Aiden’s life force, the tighter ennui squeezed my breath, like a stab to the chest.
Overlapping with his original listless, withered self from the story.
‘So that’s why Aiden never got involved in the tunnels…’
I’d thought it was because he was a master, and his involvement would stir wariness. But from the start, he’d lacked any will to act on his own.
That’s why he’d stood by during the training disaster, ignored the magic tower incident despite knowing, and holed up in his mansion when the tunnels erupted.
And now that ennui was turning toward me.
“I’m tired.”
My head spun dizzily—I wanted to lie down—but far off, Isel staggered toward me, pale and unsteady.
“Pro… fessor.”
She’d pushed her body aside and run on sheer willpower, so it was no surprise she was collapsing like this.
If anything, I wanted to praise her.
You did more than enough.
But what slipped from my mouth was somewhat prickly.
I’d felt it many times before, but being such a damn boring guy meant praise didn’t come easily.
“What.”
She calls me and then just grins under the early morning sun—what’s that about?
“Hehe.”
Flashing a radiant smile, Isel’s tilting body leaned into me, and I caught her.
She still looked like Teacher Ba to me, but the feel of her was worlds apart from that rigid, icy touch.
Her body was covered in sweat and clinging dust, monster fluids sticking viscously to her skin, blood soaked into her tattered clothes.
Her ragged attire laid bare the desperation of battles fought to the brink.
Hell, cradled in my arms and nuzzling her face against me, I nearly shoved her away on impulse.
‘My germaphobia is a real issue.’
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I stroked Isel’s hair.
Gently, slowly, careful not to graze her raw wounds.
She flinched at every touch, short groans escaping—probably muscle pain everywhere.
As I tended to her like that, the others began appearing in my view, one by one.
“…You look like hell.”
Radia, Arion… and Elin.
“We pulled an all-nighter.”
It started with some casual small talk.
“It was a long time.”
“Short and long at once.”
Every moment had been peril, leaving no room to feel how long it dragged.
Catching the meaning behind her words, my lips curved deeply.
“I see. Busy, were you.”
“She dragged us along somehow.”
Radia’s gaze shifted to the sleeping Isel, then back to me.
“I have a lot to say.”
“You always think that once the work’s done. You could stand to mind your own business a bit. Lucky my students are so curious—or should I say headache-inducing with their overactive curiosity…”
“Professor.”
Radia cut off my rambling.
Our eyes met. Long, wordless—as if words weren’t needed at all.
I closed my eyes slowly, breaking the gaze.
The soundly sleeping Isel came into view.
She looked so cute, passed out without a thought for cleanup now that it was over, so I poked her cheek.
“Mmm.”
‘Don’t do that, huh.’
What a bunny-like thing.
“I know what you want to say. But later, alright? Not the place for it out in the open, and it won’t be quick even if we start now.”
“When’s good?”
“When I feel sufficiently rested.”
“Then I’ll take that.”
Radia stepped aside, and Arion entered my sight.
“You got something to say too?”
“No, sir.”
No, huh.
But he looked like he was swallowing barely contained anger.
‘Thinks he underperformed compared to the others, does he.’
Jealousy and anger make good fuel for growth, so I said nothing.
Leave him be, and he’d figure it out—mature enough for that.
He’d find the right path on his own once pointed in the direction.
I closed my eyes.
Then my gaze naturally turned to Elin.
“Me too—later.”
“Good thinking.”
I paused a moment, then looked at Elin.
“The dorms are wrecked, right? Got a place to crash? There are nearby shelters, but I wouldn’t call them comfy. If possible, my annex is around here—I’d take you all in.”
At that, Elin and Arion glanced at each other.
“Radia, you’ve got the Drake Duke’s annex nearby, so stay there. You two don’t dorm anyway. Isel was already Pisvolt family maid, so I’ll give her a private room…”
“Then we’ll gladly impose.”
Arion bowed readily.
It wasn’t just lack of options.
More like hoping for guidance while staying at the annex—but I had no intention of refusing Arion.
“And Elin—what about you.”
“I…”
“Ah, I’ll take Elin.”
Radia claimed her.
I tilted my head, and Radia’s gaze turned sly for a moment.
Huh…?
‘Must be my imagination.’
“Mind if I ask why?”
“Girls’ talk, Professor.”
No prying, then. I nodded obediently.
Did she really need to dodge like that? But I wasn’t tone-deaf enough to push.
???
‘…’
“Young Lord Pisvolt.”
A voice calling me made me slowly open my eyes.
“Lord Heir Aiden.”
Through a small window, the coachman looked at me.
“Time to wake up, Lord Heir Aiden.”
“…How long was I out?”
“Not long. You must be tired.”
Tired…
After sleeping a full week, who wouldn’t be? But mental exhaustion outweighed the physical, so I didn’t argue.
“We’ve arrived.”
Beyond the window stood a grand, elegantly built mansion.
The main gate bore the words ‘Drake Ducal Family Annex.’
Early semester, I’d left the protagonists alone—they’d find their way.
When I joined for Isel, I’d resolved to smooth their paths and give them a boost.
Even rushing to the ‘tunnel incident’ before, that mindset had held.
‘But.’
Now was the time for more proactivity.
What I held in my hands had grown too precious, and I—the protagonists’ pillar—was crumbling faster than expected.
Above all, I’d grown attached to being a professor.
“I’ll be late returning, so no need to wait. I’ll borrow a carriage from the Drake family.”
“I’ll let Miss Charlotte know. Then… have a good time.”
The moment I stepped down, a sharp whistle sounded, followed by the clatter of hooves as the carriage rolled away.
I approached the guards at the entrance slowly.
“Who goes there?”
No prior notice, apparently—the guards looked puzzled as the carriage halted at the gate.
I tipped my bowler hat slightly, revealing my face.
I could hear the guards gulping from here.
“Gasp…! We see the third of the Empire’s Three Swords…”
“Enough. Tell Lady Radia of the Drake family… the time has come to finish our unfinished talk that day.”
Through the brim of my bowler, my eyes gleamed.
* * *
Elin woke with a stretch to the gloomy morning weather.
The bed was far cozier than the dorms, the room vast, filled with expensive furnishings—and an atmosphere evoking a princess bed that perfectly captured her heart.
‘Of course, I’ll have to leave once the dorms are rebuilt.’
Was it shameless to feel a pang of regret?
She sighed inwardly and shook her head.
She didn’t want to twist Radia sunbae’s kindness like that.
Just…
“Girls’ talk, huh.”
“Don’t like it?”
Elin turned her head.
“Radia sunbae? Why are you here?”
“This is my annex? Any reason I can’t be?”
Elin rolled her eyes dramatically.
True, Radia had no reason not to be here, but…
“Still, it’s my room—and I might be changing.”
“That’s why I knocked.”
“Ah…”
Did she? Knock, knock?
‘Why don’t I remember?’
“Guess you didn’t hear.”
Radia chuckled.
“So, what’s this girls’ talk about, sunbae?”
“Curious?”
“You dragged me away a week ago saying you’d tell me, then clammed up.”
Mm… Radia paused, then grinned at Elin.
“Living under the same roof as your favorite professor… that pink-tinted vibe. Preemptive block before our Elin does something rash?”
“Y-Yes!?”
“It’s awkward, really. With Arion there, and having to mind the professor.”
“Th-That’s.”
“Or would you prefer sticking together despite the awkwardness? With your beloved professor…”
Radia clasped her hands prayer-like, eyes sparkling, and Elin realized she was being teased, clamping her mouth shut.
Seeing Elin’s fierce protest, Radia gave an abashed apology and got to the point.
“You seem to know something about this incident. You said you’d tell me, but the professor doesn’t seem inclined to. Don’t you think so?”
“…He probably thinks we can’t handle it.”
“Yeah, that’s likely. But.”
Radia furrowed her brow.
“Better to know and face it than be blindsided—even if we can’t handle it.”
Elin nodded, somewhat in agreement.
Just as their thoughts aligned, a maid approached silently and bowed before Radia.
“The third of the Empire’s Three Swords, Master Aiden Pisvolt, Heir to the Pisvolt family, has come to see Lady Radia.”
Radia and Elin were dumbstruck.